Two eductor / four-way selector valve assembly

ABSTRACT

A method of controlling the flow of different flow paths of fluid is provided. The method includes rotating a valve to a first position, receiving a first concentrate in the first position, discharging the first concentrate through one of two outlets, rotating the valve to a second position, receiving a second concentrate in the second position, and discharging the second concentrate through one of the two outlets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/677,534, filed Aug. 15, 2017, and now U.S. Pat. No. 10,690,254, whichis a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 9,732,862, filed Jan. 28, 2014, whichis a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 8,636,031, filed May 29, 2012, whichis a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,383, filed Oct. 15, 2008, whichis a U.S. national phase application filing of International PatentApplication No. PCT/US2006/030399, filed Aug. 3, 2006, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional patent Application No. 60/707,399, filedAug. 11, 2005, the entire contents of each of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

This invention relates to a selector valve assembly. More particularly,it relates to a selector valve assembly which can regulate the flow ofat least four different fluid materials in conjunction with a dispensingeductor.

Background Art

The use of selector valves in conjunction with eductors for mixingchemical concentrates into a stream of liquid to provide a dilutedsolution is well-known. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,377,718 and5,653,261.

While these selector valves can control and select four differentchemical concentrates to be introduced into an eductor, there is aproblem with residual carry-over when selecting from one chemicalconcentrate for another. This is caused by the use of the channeleddisks 11 in the '718 and '261 patents.

All current selector valve systems which utilize two separate eductorsto provide a high and low flow rate use two separate selector valves foreach eductor. Not only does this add cost and complexity to the system,it makes the system easier for the end user to mishandle. They can havethe selector valve pointed to one product of one eductor andaccidentally fill a different product from the second eductor. Thesetypes of systems also require labeling of the dispenser for productidentification which can also cause misuse.

There is a need for a selector valve which can be used in conjunctionwith an eductor mixing system which can reduce the incidence of productcarry-over when a selector valve is moved from one position to another.There is also a need for a selector valve which can reduce costs andmishandling.

The objects of the invention therefore are:

-   -   a.) Providing an improved selector valve.    -   b.) Providing an improved selector valve for use with a liquid        mixing and dispensing apparatus.    -   c.) Providing a selector valve of the foregoing type for use        with an eductor.    -   d.) Providing a single selector valve of the foregoing type        which can accommodate two different eductors.    -   e.) Providing a selector valve of the foregoing type which        reduces the incidence of product carry-over.    -   f) Providing a selector valve of the foregoing type which        employs a minimum number of parts and reduces incidence of        improper dispensing.    -   g.) Providing a combined selector valve and eductor assembly.

These and still other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the description which follows. In the detailed descriptionbelow, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described inreference to the full scope of the invention. Rather, the invention maybe employed in other embodiments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objects are accomplished and the shortcomings of the priorart are accomplished by the selector valve assembly of this inventionwhich can control the flow of at least two flow paths of fluid. Theselector valve assembly has a body member having a compartment with anend wall. There is an outlet passage in the end wall of the compartmentand at least two passages communicate with the compartment. A rotatablemember is sealably positioned in the compartment, the rotatable memberhaving a side wall and an end wall. A first passageway extends adistance into the rotatable member from the end wall thereof. A secondpassageway extends through the side wall thereof and communicates withthe first passageway. Rotation of the rotatable member will selectivelyorientate the second passageway with each of the at least two passagesso as to cause liquid in the at least two passages to pass to the firstand second passageways and subsequently to the outlet passage.

In a preferred embodiment, the selector valve assembly includes fourpassage ports connected to the body member and communicating with thesecond passageway in the rotatable member.

In one aspect, the selector valve assembly includes swivel portsconnected to the body member and communicating with the four passages inthe body member.

In another preferred embodiment, an indexing member is connected to therotatable member.

In another aspect, the selector valve assembly includes a spring memberin biasing contact with the indexing member and a spring retainingmember connected to the body member and the spring member.

In yet another aspect, the selector valve assembly includes colorindicator means operatively associated with each of the swivel portmembers.

In yet another preferred embodiment, there are two eductors connected tothe outlet passage of the body member.

In still another preferred embodiment, two eductors are connected to theoutlet passage of the body member by check valves.

In another aspect, a method of controlling the flow of different flowpaths of fluid is provided. The method includes the steps of rotating avalve to a first position, receiving a first concentrate in the firstposition, discharging the first concentrate through one of two outlets,rotating the valve to a second position, receiving a second concentratein the second position, and discharging the second concentrate throughone of the two outlets.

In another aspect, a method of operating a selector valve assembly tocontrol the flow of different flow paths of fluid is provided. Themethod includes the steps of rotating a member provided in the valveassembly between a plurality of positions, each position providing afluid connection between one of a plurality of concentrates and aplurality of outlets, receiving one of the plurality of concentrates,and discharging one of the plurality of concentrates through one of theoutlets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the selector valve assemblyconnected to two eductors;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the component parts of the valve forinterconnection to the eductors;

FIG. 3 is another exploded view showing the component parts forplacement inside the valve body;

FIG. 4 is still another exploded view showing the valve selectorindexing mechanism; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating one position of the valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, the selector valve assembly generally 10 is shownin conjunction with two eductors 12 and 13. The preferred eductors aredescribed in commonly owned patent application Ser. No. 11/195,052 filedAug. 2, 2005 which teachings are incorporated herein. The selector valveassembly 10 includes a valve member 11 with a valve stem 14 housed in atubular body member 15 to which is connected in a fluid tight mannerfour fluid intake ports 17, each having nipples 19.

As seen in FIG. 2, the selector valve assembly 10 includes two checkvalve mechanisms generally 20 disposed between the valve member 11 andthe eductors 12 and 13. The check valves 20 include check balls 22 and23. A ball seating washer 26 and check ball guide 24 are also providedas well as a spring 28. Sealing rings are also shown at 30 and 32.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, valve member 11 is composed of valve stemretainer 35 which fits through slots 37 and 38 in body member 15 andover groove 40 in valve stem 14 to removably retain valve stem 14 inbody member 15. An indexing function is provided for the valve stem 14by means of the indexing plate 42 and indexing receiver 44. Spring 46biases plate 42 against receiver 44. Indexing receiver 44 is retained onvalve stem 14 in a non-rotatable manner by the projections 45 in thebody member 15 engaging the cut outs 47 in indexing receiver 44. This isbest seen in FIG. 4 where it is also shown the projections 43 onindexing plate 42 for riding over indexing receiver 44 and engaging theindents 41. Indexing plate 42 rotates with valve stem 14 by means of theflat walls, one of which is shown at 49 and the flat side 51 of valvestem 14.

As best seen in FIG. 5, valve body member 15 has a compartment 58 inwhich valve stem 14 is seated. A seal ring is provided at 52. It alsohas an end wall 60. A side wall 62 is provided in valve stem 14 as wellas an end wall 64. A passageway 66 extends inwardly into valve stem 14from the end wall thereof and joins passageway 68 which extends inwardlyinto valve stem 14 from side wall 62.

As also seen in FIG. 5, passages 18 are provided in intake ports 17 andpassages 57 are provided in port housings 56 to provide fluidcommunication with compartment 58 as well as passageway 68 in valve stem14. Seal rings are shown at 54. It will also be seen in FIG. 5 that bodymember 15 has eductor ports 71 which connect with eductor ports 70 ofeductors 12 and 13. Eductor ports 70 accommodate springs 28 incompartments 79 as well as check ball guides 24. Passages 77 aredisposed in eductor ports 70 and communicate with compartment 79.Compartment 79 also accommodates check balls 22 and 23 as they areseated against valve seats 75 and 76 in body member 15. A passage 78 islocated in body member and communicates with passageway 66 in valve stem14 as well as valve seats 75 and 76.

Operation

A better understanding of the selector valve assembly 10 will be had bya description of its operation. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, suitablesources of chemical concentrate are connected to intake ports 17 andnipples 19 such as with flexible tubing (not shown). It should beunderstood that eductor 12 has a faster flow rate than eductor 13.Eductor 12 and hose 72 are employed to fill a bucket, whereas eductor 13and hose 74 are employed to fill a bottle. When it is desired to fill abottle, pressurized water is introduced into the inlet 80 of eductor 13.This causes a siphoning effect on check ball 22 by means of passage 77to move it away from the valve seat 76 to afford fluid communicationwith passage 78 and in turn passageways 66 and 68. This provides asiphoning effect in intake port 17 to draw chemical concentrate intopassage 18, passageways 68, 66, passage 78, compartment 79, past intakeportion 82 and into passage 77, in that order. It is ultimatelyintroduced into the water stream in eductor 13 in a well-known manner.

When it is desired to fill a bucket, pressurized water is introducedinto the inlet 81 of eductor 12. This causes a reduction in pressure oncheck ball 23 by means of passage 77 to move it away from valve seat 75to produce a siphoning effect in passages 78 and passageways 66 and 68as previously explained in conjunction with eductor 13. This drawschemical concentrate into the eductor 12 and hose 72 as also previouslyexplained. It should be noted that when a siphoning effect is producedon one of the check balls 22 or 23, the other one is seated against itsrespective valve seal by means of spring 28 and the reduced pressurewhich moves open the other check ball.

When it is desired to introduce a different chemical concentrate in tothe eductors 12 and 13, valve stem 14 is rotated so that passageway 68is orientated with a different intake port 17. Rotation is facilitatedby the indexing plate 42 which is spring loaded against indexingreceiver 44 by means of spring 46 held captive in spring retainer 48 byclip 50 secured to valve stem 14. Indexing between indexing plate 42 andindexing receiver 44 is accomplished in a well-known manner. Thisfeature affords a positive locating of the valve stem 14 as well as anaudible indicator.

In order to assure that the proper chemical concentrates are connectedto the proper intake ports 17, colored bands of different colors can beconnected to intake ports such as shown at 84 in FIG. 1.

An important feature of the selector valve assembly 10 are thepassageways 66 and 68 in the valve stem 14. These afford less carry-overfrom one chemical concentrate to the other as passageway 68 is movedfrom one intake port 17 to another. The reason for this is thecylindrical configuration of valve stem 14 acts as a seamless,continuous chemical pathway for either eductor 12 and 13. Thepassageways 66 and 68 are preferably of 0.104 inch diameter whichaffords flow of maximum amount of concentrate with minimum amount ofproduct carry-over. The combined volume of passages 66, 68 andcompartments 79 and eductor passages 77 is 0.635 ml. Also the commonchannel 78 between the check balls 22, 23 and valve seats 76, 75respectively, is separated by less than 0.100″. This combined with thesize of the compartments 79 for the check valves 20 and the size ofeductor passages 77 minimizes retention of chemical concentrate.

Another important feature is serviceability. In order to service therevolving valve stem 14 or valve cylinder all that is required is toremove clips 50 and 35. The stem 14 can be pulled straight out withoutremoving the selector valve assembly 10 from the eductors 12 and 13 orremoving the eductors 80 and 81 and valve assembly 10 from the watervalves of a manifold. The spring retaining sleeve 48 connected to thevalve stem 14 or handle prevents the clip 35 from backing out ofposition during use.

The valve assembly 10 allows for a single valve member for use with twoeductors. This is a cost savings. It also provides for non unitlabeling, where the product is it's own label and the selector valvepoints toward the intended product. This also allows for a singlecircuit if an electronic circuit is added for remote monitoring ofchemical usage or electronic indicators (flashing lights, LED's, etc.)to further reinforce proper product selection.

The preferred material for manufacturing the selector valve stem 14 isTeflon®. The body member 15 is preferably manufactured frompolypropylene.

However, other moldable plastic materials could be employed such as apolypropylene copolymer.

The detent on indexing plate 42 affords a stop and audible indicator forthe position of the selector valve assembly 10. If desired, it could beeliminated as could the color bands 84. While the selector valveassembly 10 has been illustrated with four intake ports 17 for chemicalconcentrates, the selector valve can operate with fewer intake portssuch as two, or a greater number such as eight. AU such modificationswithin the spirit of the invention are meant to be within a scope asdefined by the appended claims.

1. A method of controlling the flow of different flow paths of fluidthrough a selector valve assembly, the method comprising: rotating acontrol member to a first position; receiving a first concentrate in thefirst position; discharging the first concentrate toward one of twooutlet passages; rotating the control member to a second position;receiving a second concentrate in the second position; and dischargingthe second concentrate toward one of the two outlet passages withoutadjusting a position of the outlet passages.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the control member includes a valve, the method furthercomprising, after the step of receiving a first concentrate in the firstposition, directing the first concentrate through a passageway in thevalve.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising rotating the valvevia a knob.
 4. The method of claim 2, further comprising, after the stepof receiving the second concentrate in the second position, directingthe second concentrate through the passageway.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the step of receiving the first concentrate in the firstposition further includes receiving the first concentrate in the firstposition from a first port.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the stepof receiving the second concentrate in the second position furtherincludes receiving the second concentrate in the second position from asecond port.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of dischargingthe first concentrate toward one of the two outlet passages furtherincludes directing the first concentrate to a first eductor or a secondeductor.